Walking On Eggshells
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Apr 11, 2022
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. STUDY - 10:30
Smart phone in hand, PETER is reading a Quora answer request .
PETER (V.O.): It's from one of my loyal fans.
We see on screen: How did a host make you (as an invited guest) feel like you were walking on eggshells during your stay?
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've never had such an encounter.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If the relationship was weak, I wouldn't have been invited.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Even if I was invited, I might not accept it. And if I accepted it, I wouldn't offend the host...and so I'd be walking on eggshells myself?
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Now, I can recall a similar incident in Summer, 1987.
Act 2
FLASHBACK
EXT. STREETS, THE HAGUE - DAY (August 1987)
Carrying a baggage, Peter stops at a house front.
PETER (V.O.): Here it is. The secretariat of the Hague Academy of International Law arranged my 3-week stay here.
Ringing the door bell, an old LADY (70s) opens the door.
LADY: You must be Peter. You came from Hong Kong or London?
PETER: Yes! Mrs Insinger. I actually came from Strasbourg, France. I've just done a Human Rights course there.
LADY: Your room is on 1/F. Deposit your baggage and come down for dinner.
PETER: Yes, it's already late in the day.
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Joining the host, Peter sees cornflakes, milk and some strawberries on the table.
PETER (V.O.): It seems that's all.
Following the host, Peter helps himself to the cold stuff.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is it the Dutch way to eat like a pauper for dinner?
Small talks.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I mustn't forget that I paid a modest half-board fee.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The next morning, I had the same for breakfast.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Thereafter, after attending the Academy course, I had Nasi Goreng at Scheveningen instead.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I was later introduced to her friend who was a former Dutch ConsuI-General to Hong Kong, I learned that my host was a diplomat's widow.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): One morning, while I was leaving the house, I witnessed a heated exchange in Dutch between an aggressive woman outside and my defensive host.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As I was wondering, the woman remarked to me that she was the house owner and didn't permit my host to sublet the house.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Feel like walking on eggshells, I made myself less visible by travelling elsewhere during weekends.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In 2002, with the help from her diplomat friend, I revisited my former host in an elderly home.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In her 90s, she just stared at me and didn't say a word.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When I gave her some money, she was a little responsive.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Months later, I received a notice in Dutch about her death. And later, a similar notice of her diplomat friend.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS
Peter uses his hand to support his head.
PETER (V.O.): These memories are decades old.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In August, 2014, my younger son and I had an European tour. One of our destinations was the Netherlands.
Peter checks his diaries on screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Father and son spent 13 days together, from London to Rome. I still feel good.
Selecting a windmill image from his phone, Peter inserts it to his Quora answer draft.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm grateful to my Quora fan for helping me to take good care of my memories.
Peter taps Post on screen.
FADE OUT
THE END
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